1'76 TSE BIDßEN LIFE OF A Cf$RIS2Iam tSERl%. 9t, and the possessor of life, spiritual and eternal, in our name. And this may be described in a variety of in- stances, according to the various parts, as well as the several advancing degrees of our spiritual life, and the perfection of it in life eternal. When his human nature was first formed complete in Ioliness, it was a pledge and assurance, that we should one day be completely holy too; for, as is the head, so must themembers be. In the original sanctification of his Spirit, flesh, and blood, we may read the certain future sanctification of every believing soul, with, its body too. See John xvii. 19. and Heb. ii. 11. Again ; when his bodywas raised from the dead ; it was a pledge and pattern of our being raised from a >4leath in sin, unto the spiritual life of a saint, as well as a certain assurance of the resurrection of our bodies in- to future glory. The first is evident from Eph. ii. 5. When we were dead in sin, he bath quickened us together with Christ. And Rom. vi. 4. As Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we . must also walk in newness of life; for we are planted in the likeness of his resurrection; ver. 5. And in 1 Cor. xv. 12, &c. the apostle builds his whole, argument of the resurrection of the bodies of saints who are dead, from the rising of our LordJesus Christ out of his grave : For Christ being risen from the dead; ver. 20. is become thefirst f ruits of them that slept. And as all that are united to Adam, by having him for their head must die ; so all who are one with Christ, and bave him for their head, shall be made alive: which seems to be the meaning of the 22d verse: As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. When he ascended into the heavens, it was not merely in his own name, but in ours too, to take possession of the inheritance for the saints in light. Heb. vi. 20i Our hopes enter within, the vail, whither Jesus the forerun- ner is for us entered. And when he sat down at the right- hand of God in the heavenly places,' it was as the great. ekemplar of our future advancement, and thereby gave us assurance, that we should sit down there too Y and therefore the apostle, in the language of faith, anti- cipates these divine honours, and applies them to the £phesians beforehand : God bath raised us up together,.
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